La Strada

Roger Ebert, in his Great Films essay on La Strada, states:

"It is Quinn's performance that holds up best, because it is the simplest. Zampano is not much more intelligent than Gelsomina. Life has made him a brute and an outcast, with one dumb trick (breaking a chain by expanding his chest muscles), and a memorized line of patter that was perhaps supplied to him by a circus owner years before. His tragedy is that he loves Gelsomina and does not know it, and that is the central tragedy for many of Fellini's characters: They are always turning away from the warmth and safety of those who understand them, to seek restlessly in the barren world."

Fellini has given us a film about outcasts. How do the roles of these outcasts reflect on each other? Do you see any signs of redemption? Choose a character and examine how that character redeems him or herself and how that character is cinematically presented as an outcast by society. Be mindful of all of Fellini's symbolism!

Minimum: 2 paragraphs

Beijing Bicycle

Wang Xiaoshuai's film Beijing Bicycle is ultimately a film about the effects of "modernization" in China. I'd like you to read this essay and discuss the film's narrative and what you feel is the implied meaning of the film as a whole. Choose one scene and analyze the scene fully and cinematically and tell me why you chose the scene and what is the scene's relationship to the film as a whole.

The Story of Qiu Ju

Think about the presentation of Qiu Ju and Meizi in the film. In one paragraph, discuss how both of these women are represented cinematically. In your next paragraph discuss how the countryside and the city are represented cinematically. In your last paragraph, tell me what you learned and what you liked best about the film.

Alien

Choose a 5-minute scene in Alien and a 5-minute scene in Metropolis (remember Metropolis?). Cinematically compare and contrast the role of the female in each film, in terms of her strength and weakness. How does the filmmaker present this? Include at least one quote from a reputable article you find online and include the source at the end of your essay.

Bride of Frankenstein

Discuss influences that German Expressionism had on James Whale's masterpiece, Bride of Frankenstein, and  what influence Bride has had on subsequent films ever since its production. Include quotes from reputable sources to back up your statements. Include links to these sources.

Exemplar Comparative Study II

Here is another comparative study to look at.

Exemplar Comparative Study

Please watch this comparative study, which scores well.